Walgreens Settles Florida Opioid Sales Suit for $683 Million

(Bloomberg) -- Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. reached a $683 million settlement with the state of Florida over claims that the company contributed to the opioid crisis by improperly marketing the painkillers. 

The deal, which calls on the pharmacy chain to pay out $620 million over 18 years and sets aside another $63 million for attorney's fees, puts an end to a trial in a state court north of Tampa. Florida officials alleged Walgreens dispensed more than 4 billion opioid prescriptions in Florida over a 15-year period starting in 2006 and failed to pick up on red flags about potential misuse on about half of the opioid prescriptions filled. 

The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing or liability by the company, Walgreens said Thursday in a statement. 

Earlier this year CVS Health Corp., Allergan Ltd. and Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. agreed to pay a combined $879 million to settle Florida's claims.

Deerfield, Illinois-based Walgreens runs more than 9,000 stores across the U.S. and more than 800 outlets in Florida, according to the company website. The decision was in the best interest of all parties involved, said Danielle Gray, Walgreen's executive vice president and global chief legal officer, in the statement. 

“Our pharmacists are dedicated healthcare professionals who live and work in the communities they serve, and play a critical role in providing education and resources to help combat opioid misuse and abuse,” Gray said. 

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